
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, February 9, 1991                   TAG: 9102110254
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

LOOSE TALK/ BUSH INVITES IRAQIS TO OUST SADDAM

PRESIDENTS sometimes do well not to ramble on extemporaneously in public about sensitive matters, especially foreign policy. There's too much opportunity to stumble, to overreach, to utter words that others can grab and use to their own advantage - and to America's disadvantage.

In our view, President Bush stumbled during his news conference earlier this week when he dwelt on the desirability of Iraqi military leaders' overthrowing Saddam Hussein.

Not that he was wrong in his premise. It would be a good thing if Saddam were ousted, especially by his own people. That might - emphasize might - bring an early end to the Persian Gulf war, preventing a lot more damage, suffering and bloodshed on both sides.

By speaking in this manner, however, Bush focuses attention on a thorny issue that he might better keep quiet. The mission of the United Nations military force is to drive Iraqi troops out of Kuwait. Nowhere has the Security Council said Saddam must be deposed.

Bush's way with words is often unfortunate. He has spoken loftily of halting aggression, but also implies a personal grudge against a leader who's "gonna get his ass kicked." Now he invites Iraqis publicly to overthrow Saddam. We can't see them falling all over themselves to oblige.

Nor do we see much likelihood of a positive reaction in the Arab world. Many Arabs harbor doubts about U.S. motives and the war's aftermath. Jordan's King Hussein, the master in a region of straddlers, on Wednesday denounced the war as "against all Arabs and Muslims." Rhetorical restraint on our part would be helpful.

The ouster of Saddam is a legitimate secondary goal of pushing Iraq out of Kuwait. But this kind of goal is best pursued discreetly. The leader of the great coalition, the framer of the New World Order, should go about his task with sorrowful resolution. Talk about welcoming mutiny in the enemy's ranks is idle and probably counterproductive chatter.

by CNB